Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate, professional, and doctorate degree programs, fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The University today is part of the only historically black Land Grant university system in the United States.

Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate, professional, and doctorate degree programs, fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The University today is part of the only historically black Land Grant university system in the United States.

Federal Requirement 4.8

15. An institution that offers distance or correspondence education documents each of the following: (Federal Requirement 4.8)

4.8.1 demonstrates that the student who registers in a distance or correspondence education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the credit by verifying the identity of a student who participates in class or coursework by using, at the option of the institution, methods such as (a) a secure login and pass code, (b) proctored examinations, or (c) new or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification.

X Compliance ___ Non-Compliance

Narrative:

Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge (SUBR) ensures the integrity of student work and the credibility of the degrees and credits it awards. The integrity of student works in online/distance education courses is ensured using different means. The Policies and Procedures for Online Programs and Course Delivery manual Section VII. D. states the policy for Secure Login and Security of Exams and Course Activities.

"SUBR Online uses the BANNER registration system. Through BANNER, all students who register for a course have been assigned a unique identification. Prior to entering the system, students must logon using their USER ID (or "S" number) and password that is unique to only that student. The SUBR Learning Management Systems, i.e., Blackboard and/or Moodle requires an additional login and password to access coursework. SUBR has made available Respondus Monitor software, along with the Respondus Lockdown Browser, student identification and student integrity is further strengthened."

4.8.2 has a written procedure for protecting the privacy of students enrolled in distance and correspondence education courses or programs.

X Compliance ___ Non-Compliance

Narrative:

Online students are notified in the course-based privacy considerations and requirements are outlined in the Online Programs and Course Delivery manual Section X. E. SUBR abides by all guidelines set forth by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Distance and correspondence courses create records of student activity and, therefore, are subject to all FERPA regulations. Online programs are indistinguishable in administrative or academic function fromface-to-face program offerings. Hence, all online programs are governed by the standing policiesand procedures of the University. Information regarding FERPA is available on the University's website which states:

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACTIn accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380, Section 513, amending the General Education Provisions Act, Section 438) students enrolled at Southern University are hereby informed of their right of access to their official records as described in the Act. For additional information, contact the Office of the Registrar. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act defines the term "directory information" as the student's name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. The University will make public "directory information" about each student, even though information from all these categories is not made public in every listing. Students who do not wish to have any or all of such "directory information" made public without prior consent must notify the Office of the Registrar in a signed and dated statement specifying items that are not to be published. This notice must be received by the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period of the semester or summer term of first enrollment, or after an absence and reenrollment, and by the end of each fall registration period thereafter.

4.8.3 has a written procedure distributed at the time of registration or enrollment that notifies students of any projected additional student charges associated with verification of student identity.

X Compliance ___ Non-Compliance

Narrative:

The university does not assess additional, mandatory fees associated with verification of student identity, outside of its regular tuition and fees. Access to BANNER, Blackboard and Lock Down Browser and Respondus Monitor software are already a part of the students’ tuition and fees. Students have access to their billing statements, including the disaggregated cost for each fee, through the secure BANNER system.